Antiques: Tin sign with value to dye for

Q I buy household estates with a friend and we found this sign titled ‘A Busy Day In Dollville’ lodged between a couple desks in a back room. After some searching online, my friend was shocked to find it might be worth more than $1,000. I’ve had many people offer me $200 for it. The tin front measures 30 cm high by 43 cm wide (11.5 x 17 inches) The cardboard-covered back states the company address of ‘200 Mountain St., Montreal, Que’ and promises “duplicates can be had for one dollar each.” I’m unsure what to think. Please help.

Steve, Toronto

This rare and valuable find is a speciality advertising piece promoting Diamond Dyes. It is valued at approximately $1200.

A This rare and valuable find is a speciality advertising piece promoting Diamond Dyes, which were manufactured by Burlington, Vermont-based giant Wells & Richardson Company. The sign itself was made by Coshocton, Ohio-based American Art Works, known for doing the early Coca-Cola trays of the time, and the charming illustration was done by famed American artist and illustrator Bessie Pease Guttman. The illustration was copyrighted in 1911. Justin Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd in Baden, Ontario, labels this as a “tin-over-cardboard” sign, and pegs its value at about $1,200, in view of the slight crazing and spotting on the surface. He notes that a pristine example could easily fetch $3,000.

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Q These small salt and pepper cut lead crystal glass dishes and spoons have been in my family for many years. We found them at my grandmother’s house in 1946, but have never known their age or origin. I am ready to pass them on to the next generation and would appreciate your input. Each of the salt cellars is 4 cm in diameter (1.5 inches) and half as high. The two sterling silver spoons are 7 cm long (not quite 3 inches) with a gold lined bowl. Thank you for your fascinating column. I read it every weekend.

Agnes, Kanata, Ontario

Until the invention of salt and pepper shakers during the late 1860s, salt was served in open cellars like this, with each diner having his or her own individual cellar and spoon. The value of this set is about $95. Picasa

A Until the invention of salt and pepper shakers during the late 1860s, salt was served in open cellars like this, with each diner having his or her own individual cellar and spoon. Cellars were filled from a master salt, and a pepper pot would be passed separately. The gold lining on the spoons helped prevent corrosion of the silver, and these are quite likely the originals. There would have been four in total, one for each cellar. Hallmarks on the spoons tell us they were made in 1873-1874 in London by Harrison Brothers & Howson. Salt cellars are not as heavily collected as they were 20 years ago, but the beautiful and harder-to-find spoons are always in demand. Your dainty set is worth $95.

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Q My late husband was born in Deutsch-Eylau Germany Poland in 1936 and as a child the family had an apartment in Hamburg during the second world war. It was the only apartment left standing on their block when they returned after the war. The bugle may have been packed by his mom into his large travel trunk for his travels to Canada in 1953, but I don’t remember my husband ever saying how he came to own it. The writing on it is very clear and reads “KuK Poststallhalterei Brunn 1866”. It, along with the gold and black cording and tassels, is in very good condition and measures 26 cm x 16 cm (10 x 6 inches). Your help with its history and value is greatly appreciated.

Maureen, Ottawa

An Austrian post-horn, used to announce the arrival of a mail coach in the days before mail was delivered by rail. It’s worth about $175.

A This is an Austrian post-horn, used to announce the arrival of a mail coach in the days before mail was delivered by rail. The coat of arms depicted here was used by Austria from 1804 to 1867, before defeat in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, which led to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The condition is very good, complete with the traditional cording and tassels, and I believe these were made for some years after 1866. They show up infrequently, and are worth about $175.

John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to his column, go to the ‘Contact John’ page at www.johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A high-resolution jpeg photo must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.)

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